THERE are currently no major accidents or incidents to report from Nottinghamshire's roads.
Traffic is flowing smoothly througout the county.
However, drivers are asked to take extra care on the M1 due to fog. Visibility is reduced on the motorway between J28, A38 (Alfreton) and J26, A610 (Nottingham).

ALEX McLeish's start to life as Nottingham Forest manager took an embarrassing twist as League One strugglers Oldham sent them crashing out of the FA Cup.

Seven minutes of second half madness decided the tie in Oldham's favour, as the Reds went from being 1-0 ahead to finding themselves 3-1 down and reduced to ten men.

Two well taken goals from Robbie Simpson, the sending off of skipper Danny Collins for a professional foul, and a goal from Jose Baxter from the resulting free kick, all between the 54th and 61st minutes, put Paul Dickov's side into the fourth round.

Billy Sharp made it 3-2 deep into injury time but it was too late for any meaningful fightback and it left new manager McLeish looking for his first victory, three games into the role he took over from Sean O'Driscoll, who was surprisingly sacked on Boxing Day.

Radi Majewski, one of five players drafted back into the starting line-up by McLeish, was at the centre of things as Forest pinned Oldham back in their own penalty area in the first two minutes.

Majewski had one promising run into the box, before then feeding Simon Cox in space down the right, although the striker's cross was a disappointment, as he struggled to keep the ball in play.

Simon Gillett, Chris Cohen, Dexter Blackstock and Brendan Moloney were the other players brought into the team by the new manager, with Billy Sharp, Guy Moussi and Henri Lansbury dropping to the bench. Adlene Guedioura is on international duty with Algeria in the African Cup of Nations, while Daniel Ayala dropped out of the squad altogether.

There was also a change in formation for Forest, with Moloney playing as one of three central defenders, alongside Danny Collins and Greg Halford, with Chris Cohen and Dan Harding operating as wing-backs.

Andy Reid had a half chance on the edge of the box but dragged a powerful shot well wide of the target. Blackstock was twice halted by tight looking offside decisions, the second of which looked questionable and then had a shot charged down, following a neat turn just inside the box.

A foul on Blackstock then proved to be a decisive moment as, after Reid had delivered a teasing ball from the right, from the resulting free kick, Forest took a 13th minute lead.

With Simon Cox poised to pounced, Matt Smith's attempt to block ended with him prodding the ball into his own net at close range.

Majewski came close to adding a spectacular second with a swerving shot that had Dean Bouzanis scrambling across goal to cover as it bent narrowly the wrong side of the post.

Jean-Yves M'Voto produced an outstanding tackle to deny Blackstock a run on goal, after a driving run from Cox had split initially the Oldham defence. It seemed the Forest striker would break clear, but the Oldham man recovered to make a perfectly timed challenge.

Blackstock did break clear of the Oldham defence two minutes later, but Bouzanis kept his composure to make a good save and then regain his feet to close down the angle for a second time, denying the striker the room to shoot again or find a team mate.

Jose Baxter came mightily close to drawing Oldham level with an outstanding free kick, bent around the defensive wall, which skimmed the side netting as it fizzed just the wrong side of the post.

Forest were forced to make an early change as Reid limped off with an injury, following what appeared to be a clash of heads, with Lewis McGugan introduced a minute or two later after completing his warm up.

McGugan's ball to Cohen on the right kick started a promising attack, with Majewski's cross to the far post forcing the first of a flurry of corners, as Forest pressured for a second goal.

Smith did well to get in a header on the edge of the Forest penalty area, with Camp happy to see it loop onto the roof of the net. While Baxter also came close with a header, as Oldham finished the half in positive fashion.

Forest came close in the 50th minute when a Blackstock header, from a Cohen corner, took a deflection that took it a foot over the bar.

But it was to be Oldham who were to claw themselves level, courtesy of an impressive strike from Robbie Simpson. After Forest had lost possession just inside their own half, Oldham moved the ball quickly to the edge of the box, from where the midfielder arrowed a powerful shot beyond Camp and into the bottom corner of the net.

And, within seven minutes of that, things had completely fallen apart for Forest, who found themselves staring at an FA Cup exit.

Simpson made it 2-1 in the 58th minute, looping a header over Camp and into the corner of the net following a precise cross from Dean Furman towards the far post.

Camp denied the Oldham man a hat-trick when he blocked with his legs a minute later but, with Oldham on the rampage, Forest found themselves reduced to ten men when skipper Danny Collins was shown a red card in the 59th minute, after he had hauled down Smith on the edge of the box.

As if to rub salt in the wounds, Baxter lashed the ball into the bottom corner of the net as Oldham made the most of the free kick on the edge of the box.

In the space of seven nightmare minutes, Forest had gone from holding what had looked to be a comfortable lead, to being 3-1 down and with a numerical disadvantage.

 There was a moment of controversy in the 66th minute when Cliff Byrne appeared to haul down Blackstock in the box, to deny the Forest man a chance on goal. But referee Roger East waved for play to continue.

Cohen's cross-shot almost carved out a goal for Forest, with Bouzanis saving well at his near post. But, generally, Oldham were defending solidly.

Keeper Bouzanis did spill a long throw from Halford, but there were no Forest players on hand to benefit.

And it was Camp who was forced into a spectacular save as Oldham pushed for a fourth goal, with M'Changama bending a shot across goal towards the far post, where Camp acrobatically pushed away.

McGugan had a shot deflected wide as Forest put the visitors under pressure, committing men forward. While Cox forced a save from the Oldham keeper with a low shot.

But Forest rarely looked like clawing their way back into the game, even after Sharp had netted in the 95th minute.

Forest: Camp, Moloney, Halford, Collins, Harding, Cohen, Majewski (Sharp 66), Gillett, Reid (McGugan 37), Cox, Blackstock. Subs: Evtimov, Lascelles, Moussi, Lansbury, Greening.

Oldham: Bouzanis, Grounds, M'Voto, Croft (Millar 93), Furman, Simpson (Taylor 82), Smith, Byrne, Baxter, M'Changama, Wabara. Subs: Cisak, Brown, Tarkowski, Winchester, Mellor.

Referee: Roger East, Wiltshire

Attendance: 11,293 (2,841 away)

NOTTINGHAM Forest will appeal against the sending off of skipper Danny Collins against Oldham – but manager Alex McLeish is refusing to use his red card as an excuse for defeat.

The Scotsman accused his players of being 'a soft touch' as Forest saw Oldham all but secure a place in the fourth round in seven minutes of madness that saw them score three goals and Forest reduced to ten men.

Collins was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Matt Smith, although replays showed it was little more than a tangle of legs – and suggested that the Oldham man was pulling the Forest's defender's shirt first.

"We did have an issue with the sending off, we felt that he was pulling Danny's shirt. I don't know if Danny even touched him. The big fella seemed to collapse like he had deck chair legs," said McLeish, who saw his side beaten 3-2.

"It looked as if he made the most of it. From what I have seen on the video, Danny did not make any attempt to make contact with him. Maybe when he was dragged down, by his shirt, he did. He might have fallen on him, I don't know.

"But that is the big question. I would like to see it blown up. We will look at it, I would think that it is a decision that is appealable."

McLeish also has a growing injury list with Daniel Ayala ruled out with a hamstring injury before the game and Andy Reid limping off in the first half with a groin problem.

"Daniel injured his hamstring in training on Friday. We had a little crash course in playing three at the back. But the players did understand what we wanted from them and they did handle it well, by and large.

"Andy was feeling his groin a little bit, so we had to take him off and we left Billy Sharp on the bench because he had a slight soft tissue problem. They are two players who are very important to us.

"Daniel has a slight strain and it scuppered our plans slightly, but we felt we had the players to deal with it. But there was a Dr Jeckyl side to us in the second half.

"It was a woeful start to the second half, despite us warning the players at half time and talking about the need for ruthless professionalism.

"But we were a soft touch in the second half. We were soft, we were sloppy, we gave the ball away cheaply, we did not close down quickly enough. We were half hearted closing down and they were able to get crosses into the box.

"Their big centre forward caused mayhem. We did not do as well as we should. Central defenders have to be ugly and rugged. They have to deal with that. He won a lot of balls – more than I would have expected our central defenders to lose.

"They caused us lots of problems in the second half. In the first half, I had been quite pleased with the performance.

"We had chances – we had big Dex going through on goal. That could have sewn it up for us. But, at 1-0, it is never safe. When you sit back and relax, we looked a little bit frightened.

"We sat off them, we allowed them to press us and it was not necessary. Why the players should allow that to happen is a mystery to me.

"Steel was needed. We needed nerves of steel, we needed to be strong. When you close players down, I want to see players do that with a toughness."

THE tag-line for Nottingham's hospitals' organ donation campaign is "Be a Hero".

It is a poignant title, given that it has been dubbed this in memory of a young Keyworth soldier called James Donaldson, who died in a motorbike accident at the age of 24 nearly eight years ago.

At the time of the crash his girlfriend was riding as the pillion passenger, and although he lost his life in the accident, his girlfriend only broke her wrist.

"We believe he died trying to cushion the blow for his girlfriend," said his mum Carol Donaldson of Dale Road, Keyworth.

But it was in death that James's heroic spirit came to the fore.

Unbeknown to his parents he had signed the register for all his organs to be donated to those in need.

James' liver went to a 55-year-old man, a ten-year-old boy had one kidney, a 51-year-old woman had a second kidney and his pancreas, while a 38-year-old man received his heart.

The tragic loss of his life saved the lives of four others.

So inspired has his mother been by her eldest son's actions, that since his death she has tirelessly worked for the Nottingham University Hospitals Trust to raise awareness about the issue.

She said: "James was a hero even in death, and all we're asking is for people to seriously put some thought into joining the register, because it really does change people's lives."

Today the trust, which runs the QMC and City Hospital in Nottingham, is launching its Be a Hero campaign in an effort to bolster the numbers on the donor list.

Last year at the two hospitals, 13 donors allowed 39 patients to benefit from 40 organs.

Currently there are 310,182 people in Notts registered as organ donors – just 28 per cent of the population, the same percentage figure as the national average.

Latest figures show there are 163 people currently waiting for organs in the county.

This is five per cent more than at the same point last year, when there were 155 people waiting, but not as many as in 2010 when 173 people were on the list.

There are 10,000 people currently in need of a transplant in the UK, and three people die everyday whilst waiting.

Anyone can register on the NHS Organ Donor Register, age isn't a barrier to being an organ and/or tissue donor, and neither are most medical conditions.

Former miner Trevor Goodman, 63, of Bilsthorpe had a new heart and kidney.

He said: "Organ donations have saved my life. My daughter was just 12 when I had my heart attack I wouldn't have made it had I not been offered a new heart. I would urge everyone to consider putting their name on the list."

The hospital campaign has already got the backing of Notts County FC.

Club chairman Ray Trew said: "As a man with a family I would ask everyone to discuss this important matter with their loved ones and make the pledge to join the Organ Donor Register.

"Joining the Organ Donor Register is very important as it can make a massive difference to those people directly affected."

Simply carrying a donor card does not mean you are on the register – you need to sign up to join the database from this website www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call 0300 123 23 23.

Have you been helped by an organ donation? Call Dominic Howell on 0115 905 1953.

Nuthall: A car parked in the Spinney car park, in Laurel Crescent, was scratched by a tool across both panels and on the driver's side. Police think the incident happened sometime between 12.10pm and 12.50pm hours on Friday. If you saw or heard anything suspicious you are asked to call 101, quoting incident number 000308-04012013.

Radford: Firefighters were called to a small fire in a house in Radford Boulevard. Two crews from Nottingham's Central fire station attended the fire in a fuse box at 10.30am on Saturday, and took ten minutes to tackle the blaze. The house is currently unoccupied and in the process of being refurbished.

Basford: People are being invited to find out how they can cut costs and save energy at home. Michael Howard from the Nottingham Energy Partnership will speak at Basford Library, in Vernon Road, tomorrow from 10.30am. Entry is free.

Keyworth: Police are appealing for information about a burglary at around 7.50pm on Friday at a house in Spinney Road. It is thought one person forced open a window while another offender was distracted the victim. Anyone with information should call Notts Police on 101 quoting incident reference 726 of January 4.

Kimberley: A vehicle was broken into in Town View during Saturday night.. Anyone with information should call police on 101 and quote incident number 000251-06012013.

ONE lucky Notts couple are to get their dream wedding in 2013 completely free.

From today, couples can enter the Nottingham Post's competition to win a £13,000 dream wedding.

As well as a ceremony and reception at the Park Plaza, the chic city centre hotel in Maid Marian Way, the winning couple will also get a Jet2holidays honeymoon at the four-star Palm Beach Hotel and Bungalows in Larnaca, Cyprus.

The £13,000 wedding package also includes rings from Stuart Thexton, cars from A W Lymn, a wedding dress and suits from East Midlands Formal Wear, hair by Zullo and Holland, photos by Red Feather Photography, flowers from Welch's and a wedding cake from Strawberry Cupcakes.

Couples can enter from today until January 20 at www.thisisnottingham.co.uk./winawedding.

All entrants will be featured in a special supplement and Post readers can vote for their favourite. The top-ten couples will be invited to a special evening at the Park Plaza hotel where the eventual winners will be chosen.

They will then spend the next few months finalising the details of their wedding, such as choosing the design for their cake, deciding on their perfect flowers and packing for that amazing honeymoon.

On the day of the wedding the hotel will offer a glass of bucks fizz or Pimm's for all guests on arrival, with a glass of champagne for the newlyweds, followed by a three-course wedding breakfast with coffee for 60 people, and up to 100 guests in the evening.

Tom Waldron-Lynch, manager of the Park Plaza, said: "We are delighted to have the opportunity to offer our hotel to whoever will be the lucky winner.

"I am sure they will have a fabulous day – and, even better, without a bill to follow.

"The team here at the Park Plaza are very excited to see who will be the ten finalists."

Post editor Mel Cook added: "Getting married can be very expensive these days. This is a great opportunity for one couple to get their whole day planned for them and, even better, get it all completely free.

"We're looking forward to making it a very special day for a special couple."

Family-run florists Welch, based in Derby Road, Nottingham, and Long Eaton, will be providing the flowers for the day and they're looking forward to working with the eventual winners.

Welch's owner director Gareth Shaw, said: "The beauty of the service that we are going to give to the winning couple is that it can be tailored to what they like. Also, within the summer just about everything will be in season so we can provide their perfect flower package."

If you or anyone you know is getting married, then click on to www.thisisnottingham.co.uk today and let us know why you deserve to Win a Wedding.

James White, reporter for thisisnottingham.co.uk, gives his verdict on Mansfield's big day:

Fans were arriving at the One Call Stadium two hours before the game kicked off, to greet the Liverpool team bus.

All the players received a warm reception – apart from pantomime villain Luis Suarez who arrived to the customary boos. The atmosphere was quietly building as the game drew closer and when the turnstiles opened at half past two, the fans poured in.

There was an electric atmosphere during the first half, despite Liverpool scoring early.

Every Stags attack was virtually cheered as if it was a goal, and despite a slightly subdued performance on the field the fans still gave the players an impressive standing ovation at half time.

Suarez entered the fray early in the second half, to be was greeted by genial chants of 'Who are ya?' from the home support. The striker responded by putting his side two goals in front, just minutes later – probably the only time the Mansfield fans were quietened.

But with just over ten minutes to go and Matt Green giving Stags fans the moment they were dreaming of, the crowd responded, attempting to suck the ball into the net for a second time.

The noise kept up until the final whistle. It was an afternoon of cup pride.

AN elderly woman has spoken of her terror after an attempted mugging on New Year's Eve.

Annette O'Halloran was dragged to the floor as a man grabbed her shopping bag and tried to wrench it free.

The incident happened on New Year's Eve as the 72-year-old was walking in Church Street towards Bailey Street, Basford, at about 4.35pm.

The grandmother of ten and mother of four was targeted as she crossed the railway bridge on Church Street.

The man grabbed her handbag from behind. She fell to the floor in the struggle, suffering minor injuries. She screamed for help and the man fled.

Mrs O'Halloran, of Basford, said: "At the time it was horrible, but it is scary now. The thought of going over that bridge terrifies me. But I've got to, to get to the doctor's, so I will have to walk around the ring road now.

"He didn't get the bag, I hung on to it. I didn't have any time to stumble, I went straight on to my face. It hurt. I wasn't really aware until I was hitting the ground and there was nothing I could do about it.

"I started screaming because it was such a bang and a thump. I let out a sort of roar when I hit my mouth on the ground.

"My nose had a bang and is still a bit strange looking, I've just got to live with the bruising now."

The offender ran off empty-handed towards Valley Road. He was tall and was wearing dark clothing.

Mrs O'Halloran was on her way to the Churchfield's surgery to get a prescription before going to stay with her son to welcome the New Year.

She said: "I was only about 50 yards away from the doctor's when it happened."

The pensioner managed to get up and walk to the doctor's surgery where she was checked out and the police were called.

Mrs O'Halloran said: "I was going there anyway and I couldn't think of anywhere else to go.

"It was comforting, it was something to hold onto in case he turned back – that was frightening me."

She is determined to get on with life despite her shock.

She said: "It threatened to knock my confidence but I made myself go out, so I don't start developing a fear."

Mrs O'Halloran was checked at Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre the next day and left with no treatment necessary.

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

Anyone with information should contact PC Asif Majid on 101 ext 803 4339 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

If you have been the victim of crime and have a story to tell, e-mail newsdesk@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk.

THE family of a woman who has been in a coma for 30 weeks after a road accident are holding a fundraising event in aid of the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance.

Ali Wearing, 48, from Nottingham, had a brain bleed while riding her motorbike on the M1 and crashed.

She was airlifted to the trauma centre at Walsgrave University Hospital in Coventry and has been in a coma ever since.

The accident happened as Ali, who works for energy company E.on, travelled south on the motorway to visit family in Wales on Friday, June 1, 2012.

Her family issued the following statement to the Post: "We are extremely grateful to the air ambulance for saving Ali's life.

"We are also grateful to the multi-disciplinary health care teams and units who have, and who continue to provide her care."

A fundraiser has been organised by E.on and the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender network to raise money for the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance and for Ali.

The event is on Friday, February 1, at the New Foresters pub in St Ann's Street, Nottingham, from 8pm.

It will include several bands, comedy acts including James Billington, a cabaret, a drag show, a raffle and an auction.

The bar will remain open until 4am and entry to the event is free.

A spokesperson for the event said: "We would like to welcome one and all to a fantastic charity evening in honour of a very special lady, Ali Wearing, who for many months now has been in a coma.

"This will be a fun-filled evening with various forms of entertainment and prizes. Entry is free – all we ask for is a donation.

"Money raised will go to the air ambulance and towards specialised care for Ali."

For more information about the event, contact Debbie at the Foresters on 0115 958 0432.

Do you owe your life to the work of the air ambulance? Contact the newsdesk@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk

THIRTY-FIVE people in Notts have died waiting for an organ transplant in the last five years.

Seven people have died already this financial year in the county – five waiting for kidneys, and two more who needed new livers.

The figures have been revealed as the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust launches its Be A Hero campaign – which is encouraging people to sign-up to be an organ donor.

At the moment there are 310,182 people in Notts registered as donors – or 28 per cent of the population.

Dale Gardiner, clinical lead for organ donation at the trust, which runs the QMC and City Hospital, said: "One donor can save the life of several people, restore the sight of two others and improve the quality of life for many more.

"The more people who pledge to donate their organs and tissue after their death, the more people stand to benefit. Organ donation is the greatest gift one person can give to another."

There are currently 163 people waiting for organs in Notts.

The majority of these people need new kidneys, but there are others who need new hearts, lungs, livers – and one person is waiting for a new pancreas.

Cystic fibrosis sufferer James Doherty, 24, of Keyworth is due to be assessed in March to see if there is any alternative to a transplant after his lung capacity dropped to just 27 per cent.

He said: "I am often very tired, and need oxygen constantly. This is a really important issue and I hope people get behind this campaign.

"Donating an organ really can give someone the chance of life."

Meanwhile grandfather Trevor Goodman knows the benefits of having a transplant better than most – having had both a new heart and kidney.

Mr Goodman, a former miner, had a heart attack in 1986 when he was 36.

"The generosity of those donors, and their next of kin, have allowed me to watch my children and now grandchildren grow up," said the 63-year-old of Cross Street, Bilsthorpe.

"I am incredibly lucky, and forever grateful to them."

ALEX McLeish may be used to fighting fires, but he can't have imagined that he would be dousing the first early sparks of a crisis this early on in his Nottingham Forest tenure.

The flames have perhaps not yet burst fully into life just three games into his new job. This could still prove to be a minor hiccup, rather than a full blown disaster.

But it is safe to say the skills he acquired during his fights for survival at both Birmingham and Aston Villa will come in useful this week.

When the Scotsman arrived at the City Ground, all the talk was of promotion, of success and of dreams of Premier League football.

Now his priority is merely to get Forest back on track, following a damaging defeat against managerless Blackburn and a morale-sapping reversal at the hands of League One Oldham in the FA Cup.

And McLeish is experienced enough to know his two priorities will be to restore the self- belief of his players – and find a way to halt the tide of goals Forest are conceding, which is now 12 in their last five games and eight in McLeish's first three games in charge.

"What a difference a week makes. We were excellent against Crystal Palace, who are a team chasing at the top. We put up a really good performance against them," said McLeish.

"But, a week later, we looked like we were down in the dumps and I have to pick the lads up again now. I will make sure their chests are out and their heads are up.

"But we need better performances, we know that. Because we were sloppy.

"We had the game won in the first half, but then let things slide. I don't think there are massive problems, there are just things that need to be tweaked.

"We have to find a balance, a settled team and a settled way of doing things."

When he talks about a settled way of doing things, McLeish is largely referring to the formation Forest adopt, with three different approaches having produced three different performances under him.

Sticking with their regular 4-1-3-2 against Palace, Forest played well, a 4-4-2 against Blackburn was less effective and, to be blunt, Oldham picked apart Forest's 3-5-2 too easily in the second half on Saturday.

"We made changes because we felt – and in the first half you saw it – that the players we have were capable of playing three at the back," said McLeish.

"I have had a couple of teams in the past, at Motherwell and Hibernian, who did that very well. They were cracking 3-5-2 teams. There are many teams who are playing that way now.

"I went over to Napoli last year to look at their system. They play a 3-4-3. Wigan play that, Steve Bruce plays it (at Hull), Darren Ferguson plays it (at Peterborough).

"I thought we would handle that ourselves and it did work in the first half. But it didn't in the second. What we saw was unacceptable, when it came to the goals we conceded. We have to put that right."

One possible answer to Forest's problems could be the addition of new players. But McLeish knows that may not be entirely straight forward during a January window when clubs place higher valuations on their players.

"We will add some players during the January window. We will enhance the quality here, whether that is at the back or in the forward positions. We will see," he said.

"I don't know when players will be coming in. I have been in this position on many occasions before and this is an awkward window.

"People like to draw things out to the end of the window to get the best deal they can get. Sometimes you end up paying more than you would in the summer. But that is the window we are in."

People who received new mobile phones, laptops, bikes, sat navs and TVs are being reminded by Ashfield Community Safety Partnership and Mansfield Partnership Against Crime to make sure they take actions to keep these items safe.

They say if you were lucky enough to get a mobile phone for Christmas there are several ways in which you can help protect it. The first thing to do is record the unique IMEI number found on it. It is usually printed under the phone battery, or can be accessed by keying *#06# into most phones. If a mobile phone is stolen, the IMEI number helps the mobile service provider block it.

Next step is to register the phone at www.immobilise.com This enables police to return stolen phones and any other property they find that you include on this free of charge register.

 Another action that is useful for a whole range of items including your phone the Partnerships recommend is writing your postcode on it with a UV pen. You can buy these at a range of places including online at amazon.com for less than £2.

 One pen will easily cover everything from your TVs and PCs to games consoles and cameras. Use stickers at your home to say items are security marked and it can help prevent thefts.

Sat navs are among the items most frequently stolen from vehicles and police figures show there has been an increased in this type of offence in the area in recent weeks.

The Partnerships say that the most obvious way to prevent theft of these highly desirable and re-saleable items is to remove them from the vehicle when you are not in it. Certainly don't leave them or their holders on view.

Keep a duster in the glove compartment to wipe the marks they often leave on windscreens – the marks are a tell-tale sign to potential offenders that there may be one in the vehicle, even if it cannot be seen.

Hopefully if a cycle was a Christmas gift for you, included with it were some lights and a helmet. If not you should invest in these vital pieces of equipment. These will help keep you as the rider safe.

In terms of keeping the bike itself safe, the Partnerships say make sure if you leave it that it is secured with a bike lock and if you store it in a shed at home make sure the shed is secure.

Commenting on the advice, Marsha Mann, Community Safety Officer for Ashfield and Mansfield said: "We want people to continue enjoying their Christmas gifts and so we have put together these simple tips to help people keep their new belongings safe.

 "As the year progresses we may run projects that help people with some of these, but taking actions like marking new household items with a UV pen is a good and inexpensive habit for people to get into themselves. Make it a resolution for 2013!

PROUD Mansfield Town boss Paul Cox is refusing to be down over his side's controversial FA Cup defeat to Premier League Liverpool.

Instead, he has called on his players to maintain the same standard of performance in order to climb the Blue Square Bet Premier table.

The Stags lost 2-1 at the One Call Stadium yesterday, with Luis Suarez handling the ball to score his side's second goal.

It proved decisive as it made the score 2-0 after Mansfield had put Liverpool on the ropes and, despite Matt Green pulling a goal back, the Stags could not get the crucial equaliser in the third round tie.

But with his side now having up to five games in hand on some of their rivals and a fixture backlog to catch up on, Cox wants them to use this experience as a positive.

"Obviously I am disappointed but I am proud of the lads," said Cox, whose Mansfield side sit six points off the play-offs in the league standings.

"The lads now, especially the second half, have set the standard. We have four or five games to catch up on other teams and we have to be consistent now and if we do that, we will be in among the pack.

"We are going for promotion and that is our main aim. This was a great day and the lads got something out of it – memories, dreams, but the bread and butter is league football.

"We will come back down to earth now with a massive bump but the standards have been set and we have to carry them through to the league.

"It has been fabulous, a little bit surreal, but we have kept focused on the football and I am just disappointed we could not get that second goal and achieve the dream of going to Anfield.

"I don't want to celebrate losing a football match but we will take a lot of positives from the game and try to build into our league campaign and be proactive in terms of our league position.

"We have run an excellent football club, a massive club close and do I want to point to the referee? No. I would rather take the positives because this is all over now and I don't want to look at ifs, buts or maybes. I want to look at the positives."